The course of tourism has turned out to be a pleasant surprise this year and 50% of 2019 has already been “caught”, as Grigoris Tassios, president of the Panhellenic Hoteliers’ Federation, said at the stand of the Financial Post Office at TIF, although in May no one believed it.
In fact, according to Mr. Tassios, the season continues in many areas and we are going for a better 2022.
With 16 months of lockdown, rising savings and a crowded world, everyone wanted to spend more and have a better time. This was especially evident in food, in addition to hotels, said the president of the Hoteliers Federation.
Overland tourism
We must look at the European tourist who comes to our country by road and not only from the Balkans. I suggested to the Minister of Tourism that we do a study focusing on Central Europe. Someone can come from Germany in 12 hours when in the past it took them 2 days. Motor touring or motorhome tourism is also important. This tourism brought 10 million tourists in 2019 is the one that can benefit the periphery.
How Halkidiki fared
Asked how the tourist traffic in Halkidiki went, Mr. Tassios said that he followed the country’s numbers in a year that was “supported” by the Balkans.
Romanians were the number one ethnic group, with traffic from England and Germany increasing in August.
The good news is that in September occupancy continues to move at very high levels, at 70%.
